Batting practice aid

ABSTRACT

Provided is a way for a hitter to practice hitting a baseball or softball to improve hitting skills as well as improving eye-hand coordination while increasing strength in the forearms and arms. Disclosed is a square tubular metal frame that can be easily broken down and fit into a small bag for transporting. This tubular frame can be setup in minutes, sliding the metal tubular frame together, utilizing locking safety pins and can either be equipped with a baseball or softball to practice one&#39;s hitting skills. This hitting device is fully adjustable to the hitter&#39;s height and strength level.

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 60/714,983, filed Sep. 7, 2005.

TECHNICAL FIELD & BACKGROUND

The present invention generally relates to the field of baseball orsoftball. More specifically, the present invention relates to baseballor softball and batting practice.

There is a constant search in the baseball or softball industry to findnew ways to help increase the performance of batters. The presentinvention delivers higher batting averages by providing a way topractice repetitious batting without retrieving balls after they arehit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be described by way of exemplary embodiments,but not limitations, illustrated in the accompanying drawings in whichlike references denote similar elements, and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a drawing of a perspective view of a batting practiceaid, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a drawing of a baseball or softball attached to amain vertical support, in accordance with one embodiment of the presentinvention; and

FIG. 3 illustrates a drawing of a side view of the batting practice aid,in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

Various aspects of the illustrative embodiments will be described usingterms commonly employed by those skilled in the art to convey thesubstance of their work to others skilled in the art. However, it willbe apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention maybe practiced with only some of the described aspects. For purposes ofexplanation, specific numbers, materials and configurations are setforth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the illustrativeembodiments. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art thatthe present invention may be practiced without the specific details. Inother instances, well-known features are omitted or simplified in ordernot to obscure the illustrative embodiments.

Various operations will be described as multiple discrete operations, inturn, in a manner that is most helpful in understanding the presentinvention, however, the order of description should not be construed asto imply that these operations are necessarily order dependent. Inparticular, these operations need not be performed in the order ofpresentation.

The phrase “in one embodiment” is used repeatedly. The phrase generallydoes not refer to the same embodiment, however, it may. The terms“comprising”, “having” and “including” are synonymous, unless thecontext dictates otherwise.

Referring now to FIG. 1 as in one embodiment shown is a batting practiceaid 10 having a plurality of legs. The plurality of legs have aplurality of front support legs 12 and a plurality of outrigger legs 14to maintain stability while the batting practice aid device 10 is inuse. Both the plurality of front support legs 12 and the plurality ofoutrigger legs 14 are attached to a fully moveable vertical support 16via a frame base 18. The fully moveable vertical support 16 is attachedto the fully moveable vertical main support 15 which is then movablyattached to the frame base 18. The frame base 18 will have a cut out 22so that the fully moveable vertical main support 15 can move from asubstantially vertical position 24 to a forward position 26 that may bein a range of motion making and angle 1 to 45 degrees from the verticalposition 24. The fully movable vertical main support 15 moves forward tothe forward position 26 and then back to the substantially verticalposition 24 as the batter makes his swing. This angle may be anyappropriate angle to meet a batter's needs. The fully moveable verticalmain support 15 will stop at a return mechanism stop support 28. Shownis forward support 30. Both the plurality of front support legs 12 andthe plurality of outrigger legs 14 and frame base 18 are attached toeach other by interlocking themselves together that may be one slidinginside the other and may be pinned together by removable locking safetypins. It is understood that the plurality of front support legs 12 andthe plurality of outrigger legs 14 may be attached together and to framebase 18 by any appropriate means including bolts, screws, pins,adhesive, VELCRO or the like. Any other connection of parts in thebatting practice aid 10 may be done by any appropriate means includingbolts, screws, pins, adhesive, VELCRO or the like.

Referring to FIG. 2 as in one embodiment shown is a baseball or softball40 mounted to an L bracket 42 via a bolt 44, the bolt 44 may be securedto the L bracket 42 by a locking washer 41 and a nut 43. Attached to theL bracket 42 is a ball spring 46. The baseball or softball 40 and the Lbracket 42 may be slid through a protective sleeve 48 which is attachedto the fully adjustable vertical main support 16 via a hose clamp 50.The protective sleeve 48 may be made out of rubber, clear plastic or anysuitable material to protect the inside parts, provide rigidity andpossibly allow a clear view of the internal parts. The baseball orsoftball 40 is attached to the fully adjustable vertical support 16 viaremovable locking safety pin 52. The removable locking pin 52 moves todifferent holes 59 along movable vertical support 16 to increase ordecrease the tension in ball spring 46.

Referring to FIG. 3 as in one embodiment attached to the fully moveablevertical main support 15 are two horizontal support brackets 54including holes. At least one return spring 56 can be attached to thehorizontal support brackets 54 and then attached to the frame base 18,they may be attached using a bolt, locking washer and nut or a removablesafety pin. These return springs 56 can be adjusted forward and back viadifferent holes in the frame base 18 using a safety pin. These allow foradjustability of spring tension to accommodate different batter'sstrength or a player's desired tension to build strength. The movablevertical support 16 may slide inside of the movable vertical mainsupport 15 securing both together by a vertical locking safety pin 13.The adjustable connection of the movable vertical support 16 inside ofthe movable main support 15 allows for adjustability to heightdifferences of players. Fully moveable vertical main support 15 ispivotally attached to frame base 18 and will stop at the returnmechanism stop support 28. Main vertical main support 15 may have anadaptor to connect vertical main support 15 to frame base 18 or mainvertical support 15 may be tapered to fit inside frame base 18. Any oneor all parts in batting practice aid 10 may be made out of steel,plastic or any appropriate material also the individual parts may beround, angle iron, tubular or any appropriate shape. Any one or allparts can be broken down and stored in a carry bag to allow forconvenient mobility to various competitions or practices.

While the present invention has been related in terms of the foregoingembodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the inventionis not limited to the embodiments described. The present invention canbe practiced with modification and alteration within the spirit andscope of the appended claims. Thus, the description is to be regarded asillustrative instead of restrictive on the present invention.

1. A device for batting practice comprising: a returnable ball; avertical frame supporting the returnable ball, and a main framesupporting the vertical frame at least one adjustable tension springbetween the main frame and the vertical frame.
 2. The device of claim 1,wherein the vertical frame and main frame can be broken down forstorage.
 3. The device of claim 1, wherein the vertical and main frameare made out of square tube.
 4. The device of claim 1, wherein thevertical and main frame are made out of round tube.
 5. The device ofclaim 1 wherein the vertical and main frames are made out of a selectedone of plastic, metal and wood.
 6. The device of claim 1 wherein thevertical frame is connected to the main frame by an adaptor.
 7. Thedevice of claim 6 wherein the adaptor has a first and second end thefirst end is hingeably connected to the main frame and the second end isfixed to the vertical frame.
 8. The device of claim 1 wherein the ballis connected to the vertical frame by an L bracket with a springsurrounded by a protective sleeve.
 9. A device to practice battingcomprising: a returnable ball connected to an L bracket and ball springthe L bracket and ball spring surrounded by a protective sleeve; avertical frame supporting the returnable ball the vertical frame has afirst end and a second end the first end is connected to the ballspring, and a main frame supporting the vertical frame at least oneadjustable tension spring between the main frame and the vertical framethe second end of the vertical frame hingeably connected to the mainframe.
 10. The device of claim 9, wherein the vertical frame and mainframe can be broken down for storage.
 11. The device of claim 9, whereinthe vertical and main frame are made out of square tube.
 12. The deviceof claim 9, wherein the vertical and main frame are made out of roundtube.
 13. The device of claim 9 wherein the vertical and main frames aremade out of a selected one of plastic, metal and wood.
 14. The device ofclaim 9 wherein the vertical frame is connected to the main frame by anadaptor.
 15. The device of claim 14 wherein the adaptor has a first andsecond end the first end is hingeably connected to the main frame andthe second end is fixed to the vertical frame.
 16. A method for battingpractice comprising: securing a ball to a vertical support the ball in avertical position; swinging a bat at the ball; and returning the ball tothe vertical position by at least one tension spring.
 17. The method ofclaim 16 wherein the vertical support is maintained in the verticalposition by being connected to a main frame with a stop.
 18. The methodof claim 16 wherein the ball is connected to the vertical support thetension spring connects to the vertical support and a main frame. 19.The method of claim 16 wherein the at least one tension spring isadjustable to accommodate players of different heights.
 20. The methodof claim 16 wherein the vertical support hingeably attaches to a mainsupport by an adaptor.